Today's links would have been here sooner if not for visa issues that held them in Bradenia longer than expected ...

* As Mike Sielski notes, Oliver Perez -- or if you prefer, "Minaya's Folly" -- hasn't been able to harness his control again this year. It's hard to imagine a happy ending here.

* BBTIA wonders: Was Matt Harrison abused? I link, you decide.

* And the curtain rises on Kyle Lohse and his supporting cast ...

* Longtime major league reliever Bob Locker has built a page to support Marvin Miller, and it's interesting mostly for the many testimonials offered by Locker's colleagues.

* Is Darnell McDonald -- one of this spring's feel-good stories -- destined for the waiver wire before summer arrives? Brian MacPherson works the math.

* The New York Times on Howard Bryant's new book about Henry Aaron. Meanwhile, the previously unmined Gabe Paul tapes might make this book worth reading.

* Hey, don't worry about Hunter Pence. He just needs to play angrier. I'm not quite so sure about Carlos Lee, though.

* Alex Gonzalez. BIG start. Rich Lederer. Digs DEEP.

* Geoff Young on some of the charms of the minor leagues.